Consumerist
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whoops
Tales Of Consumer Reports Employees Injuring Themselves With Products
Nobody is perfect, it seems, not even the folks at safety-conscious Consumer Reports. They've put together a group of stories from employees who managed to injure themselves with various products. More » -
4th of july
Video: Fireworks Are Fun Until They Blow Up In Your Pants
Enjoy yourselves out there this 4th, folks, but do remember to be careful with those fireworks, as seen in this edited version of the CPSC fireworks safety video set to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It's funny when mannequins blow up. Your hands, jeans, or the desk in front of your face, not so much. More » -
product safety
Senate Votes For Safer Products, Approves Consumer Product Safety Commission Overhaul
The Senate finally voted last week to send the ailing Consumer Product Safety Commission desperately needed funds, staff, and powers. The overdue reform bill passed with bipartisan support on a 79-13 vote. More » -
product safety
CPSC Wants To Make Retailers Test Products They Sell
If pending legislation passes, the CPSC may make retailers test their wares, and make retailers legally responsible for the products they sell. CPSC chair Nancy Nord said yesterday at a press conference, "the ultimate responsibility at the end of the day to make sure that their products are safe and if they do not, we will take enforcement activity at the product sellers." More »
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warnings
Common Waterproofing Sprays May Cause Lung Problems, But CPSC Won't Warn You About It
Several cheap waterproofing sprays—like Kenyon Water Repellent, Jobsite Heavy Duty Bootmate, Rocky Boot Weather and Stain Protector, and Stand 'n Seal grout sealer—can cause "shortness of breath, persistent cough and in some cases long-term lung injuries," writes the New York Times. Unfortunately, you won't see warnings on any of these products, because the CPSC keeps ignoring state requests to do something about it. More » -
government
White House Is Proposing Its Own Version Of Product Safety Plan
Today the White House will announce its own plan for how to tighten the country's slack product safety practices. The proposal is being offered as an alternative to the one Congress has come up with, which the White House—along with industry trade groups and Consumer Product Safety Commission head Nancy A. Nord—think is too mean to manufacturers.
The White House version suggests stationing inspectors in other countries to inspect goods before they are shipped to U.S. shores, because "with $2 trillion in imports annually, inspections at the ports had become ineffective." We're not sure how the math works on that one—unless sharks or pirates consume large amounts of imports during transit, the same number of goods leave foreign ports and arrive at ours, and having inspectors all in one place where they can work together, instead of spread out in each foreign country, seems a more efficient use of resources. But we're probably just stupid from too much lead. More » -
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product safety
China Arrests 774 People Over Safety Issues
China has arrested nearly 800 people over the past two months in a "nationwide crackdown on the production and sale of tainted food, drugs and agricultural products," writes the New York Times. The country announced the number officially today on their website, but did not provide details on the violations involved. The announcement is part of a larger campaign to not only rehabilitate China's image around the world, but to address concerns that its domestic products are even less likely to be safe. More » -
someone think of the children
FDA Says No Cough Syrup For Toddlers Without Doctor Approval
The FDA is warning parents not to give cough syrup to children under 2 without doctor approval after becoming concerned about the number of children where were overdosing on OTC syrup. The FDA will also convene a panel of experts to evaluate the use of cold medicines in children.
"Questions have been raised about the safety of these products and whether the benefits justify any potential risks from the use of these products in children, especially in children under 2 years of age," the agency said. More » -
cars
Chinese "Brilliance" Car Doesn't Look Very Smart In Crash Tests
Here's footage of some nice German people crash testing (40mph, offset) a Chinese car called the BS6. According to the Auto Blog, the CEO of Brilliance said "this very model, the BS6, would be imported to the US either later this year or in 2008." We don't know a whole lot about cars, but we know that when they get a 1 star rating, that's bad. —MEGHANN MARCO More » -
product safety
77 Expiration Dates For Household Goods, Food And Beauty Products
How long does ketchup last? Olives? Dry pasta? Real Simple has contacted manufacturers and experts and put together a list of suggested expiration dates for 77 different types of food, household goods and beauty products. Some interesting ones:
- Dried pasta: 12 months
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1-10 of 10 for "product safety"
